Editor’s note: The Journal’s Unsung Heroes series spotlights a local veteran each Monday from Memorial Day to Veterans Day. If you would like to nominate an Unsung Hero, email [email protected].
By DANYEL VanREENEN
The Journal
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — U.S. Army veteran and Martinsburg resident Paul Barsotti joined the Army out of high school to serve something bigger than himself, and to become a positive role model for his son.
(Submitted photo)
Born in 1985, Barsotti said the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks motivated him to make sacrifices for his country.
“After 9/11, I had a very strong sense of patriotism. I wanted to help make a difference and defend our great country,” Barsotti said.
Patriotism and fatherhood were the biggest reasons behind Barsotti’s enlistment.
“I was a father at 15, and I wanted to be a strong positive role model for (him) to look up to,” Barsotti said.
In the Army, Barsotti said he was stationed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Attached to the second ranger battalion, 75th ranger regiment, he became a platoon sergeant and team leader for field operatives.
“Some of the most defining experiences were when I passed all tests and became a U.S. Army Ranger, then again when I became a non-commission officer,” Barsotti said.
He is also proud of the opportunities he had to lead rangers in the field.
Despite the ranks he achieved, Barsotti said the biggest reward of Army service was the feeling of serving a greater cause.
“The biggest rewards were the feeling of selfless service to a greater reason than myself, the feeling of pride — of accomplishment — and becoming an all around better and (more) responsible person,” Barsotti said.
Despite the rewards, Barsotti said he faced obstacles and challenges during his time in and out of service. He said keeping his spirits high and staying focused did not always come easy. He said he struggled to keep morale up, and the constant focus required to complete missions challenged him throughout his time in service. However, he said successfully completing the mission was his top priority.
“Both overseas and state-side, the mission always comes first,” Barsotti said.
Adjusting to civilian life had its challenges for him as well. According to Barsotti, transitioning from the fast-paced, high-stress lifestyle of a U.S. Army Ranger to a civilian environment was difficult. Barsotti said the more relaxed civilian lifestyle lacked the sense of urgency, and it was more difficult to accomplish tasks without the Army environment.
“The most challenging issues I had coming back was the laid back environment and the lacking sense of urgency to accomplish any given task,” Barsotti said. “The slower pace of generally everything was the most difficult task for me rejoining civilian lifestyle.”
Proud of his military background and accomplishments, Barsotti now works as a maintenance technician at Fedex Ground in Hagerstown, Maryland.
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